THE ELITE AGENT

56. DANGLING KEY

Elena's POV:

Gwen was silent the whole time as we sat on the couch. She looked around, taking in her surroundings. I noticed the house is painted differently than the last time I was here. There was a fireplace and television was mounted on the wall right above. The couch we sat on was bouncy and comfortable. Everything was placed neatly in its place.

But nobody would know the collection of rifles behind the television. Nobody would know about knives and blasters stacked below the couch. Nobody but some alert agents.

Grandpa came back to the living room with a tray filled with biscuits, croissants and coffee. He placed the tray on the table, grabbed a cup and passed it to Gwen with a warm smile. Gwen took the cup in a very ladylike manner which is usually contrary to her usual behaviour. Grandpa walked towards me, holding a cup. He passed me the cup and I take it from him, nodding once in thanks. He didn't move and I could feel his eyes on me. I look up in a silent question. He smiles sadly.

"Life hasn't been easy on you, has it?"

I look away as I gulp. There's nothing I can hide from him. He still reads me like an open book. "I am fine, grandpa."

He nods though his expression says he doesn't believe me one bit. He sat on the couch as he picked up his cup.

"I thought I would get to see my grandson when you come back. Where's he?"

I blink. How should I tell him? How should I tell him that he is in the evil clutches of Meghan and I have no idea how he's coping?

"We have a problem. It's huge this time."

"Which is..."

"Meghan has Ben and Alex with her. She wants the coordinates in return for them," I sigh as I clench my hand. "I don't know what to do."

"Elaborate from the start."

And I did. I told him everything. Right from the start. I told him how I inhaled the gas, followed by the hallucinations. Meghan's threat, Alex surrendering himself, Ben being ambushed. I told him everything.

Maybe I skipped a few details that happened on the rooftop, but apart from that, I told him everything.

He nods once as he sipped his tea. We waited for his response but he said nothing. He placed the cup back on the table, grabbing a biscuit while pulling his hand away.

"Why were you on the rooftop by the way?"

I clear my throat as I try to keep my expression neutral. "I...I wanted to get some air."

"Hm," He takes a bite off his biscuit. "And magically Alex happens to be there as well?"

"Grandpa! That's not important."

He laughs as he got up from his couch, and walks up the staircase. He's as old as the sun but still the most intelligent person I have ever known. After a few minutes, he walked down the stairs with a small box. I got up from the couch, my heart racing as I approach him.

"My grandson means everything to me, Elena. And I would not hesitate to turn the world around to save him," He looked down at the box with a thoughtful gaze before looking up once again. "I know what Edward feels right now. He would want to save his son just like the way I wanted to keep my daughter safe. But the universe always has other plans."

I clench my teeth as images flood my brain. The eyes of my grandpa are so similar to that of my mother. Same warm emerald orbs. My jaw twitches as I try and miserably fail to keep my expressions under check.

"No parent deserves to lose their child. The one who has lost, the unfathomable pain they carry, that I carried-" He broke off as he took a deep breath, unable to complete his sentence. He looks away for a second. I could see his face break but is once again back in control. It's almost like I dreamt of his pain-filled expression.